Health Services

We are a dedicated team of health professionals who are here to create a healthy environment on campus. 

The Health Services office is located on the southwest side of the Ponce Breezeway. Our staff includes a Registered Nurse and a Nurse Practitioner.

Nursing Staff on Campus

Health Services is open from 7:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Walk-ins welcome

To make an appointment, please call (904) 819-6211

Health Services

Phone: (904) 819-6211

Fax: (904) 824-1183

Email: healthservices@flagler.edu

Our Services

We provide the following health services such as: 

  • Assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of minor illnesses
  • Education and information 
  • Sexual health education
  • Over-the-counter medication and most prescription medications
  • COVID-19 testing 

Health Services FAQs

If you need to see a medical provider after hours or on the weekends when Health Services is closed, here are a few options. 

MedOne

841 S Ponce de Leon Blvd
Suite 4 St. Augustine, FL 32084

Phone: 904-907-2229

Hours: 9 AM - 6 PM Weekdays and 9 AM - 5 PM Weekends, No Appointment Necessary!

CareFast+

Monday – Friday 8:00 am – 8:00 pm
Saturday & Sunday: 8:00 am – 6:00 pm 

110 Health Park Blvd
St. Augustine, FL 32086

Phone: 904.823.3401

Care Spot (Fast Med)

2095 US Highway 1 S
St Augustine, FL 32086

Phone: 904-429-0001 

*Recommend calling first if an X-ray is needed

Monday - Friday, 8 am to 8 pm
Saturday - Sunday, 8 am to 8 pm

We are open to all full-time students and do not require insurance. Most of our services are free. Some costs may apply to testing and medicine. If you are given a prescription, you will have to use your insurance at the pharmacy.

We also offer a check-out system for the following items: 

  • Crutches 
  • Heating pads 

If you are looking for medical insurance information, please visit this guide
Medical Insurance Guide for Students

Your office visit is always 100% confidential and we will never talk to anyone unless we have written permission from you.

Short answer- No. However, please stop by because we would love to evaluate you to help you on the path of recovery. 

The Attendance Policy has more information regarding student absences.

Students must have 2 MMR vaccines (measles, mumps, and rubella) to attend Flagler College. If you are a full-time student, all forms are due within three weeks of your admission letter from the college.

All newly admitted students will receive a letter about registering for the Student Health Portal and the  Med+Proctor immunization portal. Immunizations, permission to treat forms, Immunization exemption requests, and waivers will be handled by Med+Proctor. 

All full-time students must either be immunized for Meningitis and Hepatitis B or sign a waiver for each acknowledging the risk but refusing the immunization. These can be found on your Med+Proctor portal.

Additional information regarding our required immunizations, waivers, exemptions, and instructions for uploading your immunization records to Med+Proctor can be found on our Immunization page.

Your Student Health Portal is used by Health Services to maintain your medical records while attending Flagler College. 

  • Access your Student Health Portal at:  https://flagler.studenthealthportal.com
    • Your portal Username is your Flagler College email, and your Password is your email password.
    • If you are a newly admitted student and do not have an email, contact Admissions@flagler.edu
  • Once logged in, click on MyForms in the top menu bar. The forms listed below will appear in the left menu bar. If some forms do not appear, this means you have completed that form.
    • Health History - complete the required information in the form
  • If information is missing or needs to be clarified, after you complete your entries, you will receive a secured email from the portal in your Flagler College email inbox with your next steps.

For help with the portal please reach out to Health Services by email at HealthServices@flagler.edu or by calling 904-819-6211

  • All individuals should monitor their health on a daily basis.
  • If you don't feel well, do not come to campus or go to class.
  • Full-time students who do not feel well can come to Health Services for a free evaluation. If suspected, we can test for flu, COVID, strep throat, urinary tract infections, mono, and STDs. 
  • You can call us at 904-819-6211 or email HealthServices@flagler.edu.
  • Health Services provides COVID testing free of charge to all full-time students.
  • If we are closed, there is a list of local recommended walk-in clinics on our door. Or, see the above dropdown, "Do you need to see a medical provider on weekends or after Health Services is closed?"

Yes, we test for gonorrhea and chlamydia. We send your urine sample to a lab and it usually takes 2-3 days to get the results. The cost is $20, cash only. We can also diagnose other STDs upon request. 

We offer treatment such as prescription medication for anxiety and depression.

The College offers therapy services through our on-campus Counseling Center.

  • Full-time students can come to Health Services to be tested for COVID and the Flu.
  • Part-time students and employees can obtain COVID tests at any walk-in clinic, or purchase them at retailers and pharmacies.
  • If you have questions, call Health Services at 904-819-6211 or email HealthServices@flagler.edu

     

  • Students should contact Health Services at 904-819-6211 or email HealthServices@flagler.edu if they test positive for the flu or COVID.  
  •  If you test positive for COVID or the flu, you should isolate from others while you are feeling sick. Provided your symptoms are improving, and you are fever-free for the final 24 hours without the aid of medication, you can leave isolation.

**Please be aware that a residual risk of transmission for COVID remains, depending on the person and circumstances, after the period in which people are recommended to stay home and away from others. Five additional days of interventions (i.e., masking, testing, distancing, improved air quality, hygiene, and/or testing) reduce harm during later stages of illness, especially to protect people at higher risk of severe illness. Some people, especially people with weakened immune systems, might be able to infect others for an even longer time. It is important to note that a similar residual risk of transmission is also true for influenza and other viruses. 

  • The College does not have on-campus isolation rooms available. 

More information on isolation protocols can be found on the CDC site.

Building
Exact Location
Lewis House Wall - Front Desk
FEC Lobby Security Desk
Ringhaver Student Center Wall - Security Desk
Cedar Street Residence Hall Wall - Security Desk
Communication Building Wall - by Dr. Halcomb's Office
Auditorium Lobby - North Wall
Gym Court- Front West Wall
Gym Portable - Trainers Office
Ponce Hall Portable - Security Office West Counter
Athletic Complex Ice Room behind Concessions
Tennis Center Outside Head Coaches Office
Proctor Library Wall - Circulation Desk
Kenan Hall Wall - 3rd Floor by K300
Health Services Portable - Nurse's Office

The common cold is a virus that causes upper respiratory symptoms.

What are the symptoms of a cold?

Generally, the first symptom you have is a sore or scratchy throat. The sore throat will usually go away after a day. Other symptoms of a cold are a low-grade fever of up to 100 degrees or a little higher, stuffy or runny nose, and eventually a cough. The first 3 days of colds are generally the worst, but symptoms can linger up to 10 days, with the cough lasting a little longer.  In general, you don't need to see a medical provider for a common cold, but if symptoms worsen or don't go away, it might be time to see a medical provider.

Most people with a common cold can be diagnosed by their signs and symptoms.

Treatment

There's no cure for the common cold other than time, and in most cases, symptoms get better without treatment. The best thing you can do is take care of yourself while your body heals. For example, drink plenty of liquids, humidify the air, use saline nasal rinses, and get adequate rest.

Antibiotics are of no use against cold viruses and shouldn't be used unless there's a bacterial infection.

Ways of relieving your symptoms can include using over-the-counter (OTC) medication to reduce fever, body aches, congestion, and cough. Be sure to read labels carefully because some cold medications treat multiple symptoms making it easy to duplicate medications. Be sure not to take two medicines with the same active ingredient, such as an antihistamine, decongestant, or pain reliever. Too much of a single ingredient could lead to taking more than the recommended dose and cause side effects.

Pain relievers

To treat fever, body aches, sore throat, and headache, over-the-counter acetaminophen or Advil are helpful. Use these medications for the shortest time possible and follow label directions to avoid side effects.

Decongestants and nasal sprays

Decongestants work to reduce the inflammation in your nasal passages and help ease nasal stuffiness. Don’t use decongestant drops or sprays for more than 3-4 days because prolonged use can cause rebound symptoms.

Cough syrups

Over-the-counter cough medicines may help your cough. Cough suppressants can reduce the amount you are coughing, and cough expectorants can help loosen the phlegm when you cough. A natural way to loosen thick mucus is to take a hot, steamy shower.

Lifestyle and home remedies

To make yourself as comfortable as possible when you have a cold, try some of these suggestions:

  • Drink plenty of fluids. Water, juice, clear broth, or warm lemon water are good choices. Avoid caffeine and alcohol, which can dehydrate you.
  • Sip warm liquids. Chicken soup and other warm fluids, such as tea or warm apple juice, can be soothing and can loosen congestion. Honey may help coughs. Maybe try it in hot tea.
  • Rest as much as possible. Stay home instead of socializing. This will give you a chance to rest and heal, as well as reduce the chances that you'll spread your cold to others.
  • Soothe a sore throat. A saltwater gargle of 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon of table salt in 4 to 8 ounces of warm water can help soothe a sore throat. Gargle the solution and then spit it out. You can also try ice chips, lozenges or hard candy.
  • Try saline nasal drops or sprays. Saline nasal drops or sprays can keep nasal passages moist and loosen mucus.

Alternative medicine

Despite ongoing studies, much conflicting evidence exists on the effectiveness of alternative cold remedies such as vitamin C, echinacea, and zinc.

Vitamin C

It appears that, for the most part, taking vitamin C won't help the average person prevent colds. However, some studies have found that taking vitamin C before cold symptoms start may shorten the length of time you have symptoms.

Echinacea

Study results on whether echinacea prevents or shortens colds are mixed. Some studies show no benefit. Others show some reduction in the severity and duration of cold symptoms when taken in the early stages of a cold. Different types of echinacea used in different studies may have contributed to the mixed results.

Echinacea seems to be most effective if you take it when you notice cold symptoms and continue it for seven to 10 days. It appears to be safe for healthy adults, but it can interact with many drugs.

Zinc

Several studies have suggested that zinc supplements may reduce the length of a cold. But research has turned up mixed results about zinc and colds.

Some studies show that zinc lozenges or syrup reduce the length of a cold by about one day, especially when taken within 24 to 48 hours of the first signs and symptoms of a cold. Too much Zinc also has potentially harmful side effects.

U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a warning against using zinc-containing nasal cold remedies because they are associated with a long-lasting or permanent loss of smell.

Vomiting and diarrhea generally serve a purpose; they are ways your body is trying to remove an irritant from your system.

Nausea serves to prevent you from eating, giving your stomach and bowls time to recover.

Food poisoning and the norovirus can cause these symptoms and it is difficult to tell the difference between food poisoning and a gastrointestinal virus.

Norovirus

The norovirus is a common cause of vomiting and diarrhea. Symptoms occur 12-48 hours after exposure and generally get better after 1-3 days. Symptoms are:

  • Diarrhea
  • Vomiting
  • Nausea
  • Stomach cramping
  • Also, possibly fever, headache, and body aches

Food poisoning

You can get sick with food poisoning after swallowing certain germs such as salmonella or E. coli. Symptoms can be mild or serious and can last a few hours to several days. Symptoms can be:

  • Diarrhea
  • Stomach cramping
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Fever

 See a medical provider if you have the following issues:

  • Bloody diarrhea
  • Diarrhea for more than 2 days
  • Fever over 100.0
  • Abdominal pain (cramping can be normal)
  • Vomiting so often that you are not keeping any fluids down
  • Symptoms of dehydration: Not urinating, dry throat or mouth, feeling dizzy when standing

How to treat your symptoms:

If you vomit, wait 2 hours before trying to drink any fluids; start with sips of clear liquids and progress to larger amounts of fluids as tolerated

Avoid dairy products for 24 hours

Suck on ice chips if nausea makes it hard to drink

As your appetite returns and you are hungry for food, start with bland and easy-to-digest foods such as bananas, apples, toast, and plain rice – avoid anything spicy or heavy.

Bacteria

Bacteria is a single-cell microorganism that can live in and on the human body. Most bacteria are not harmful, and some actually help. Some bacteria can cause illness.

People can come into contact with bacteria from other people, which can cause illnesses such as strep throat, conjunctivitis, and some STDs.

Antibiotics are used to treat bacterial infections. Some bacteria become resistant to antibiotics, causing difficulty treating the infection. You should never use an antibiotic to treat a viral infection. How a person uses antibiotics can affect how well that antibiotic works for them and others in the future.

Viruses

Viruses are bits of genetic material, either RNA or DNA, surrounded by protein and need a living host (person, plant, or animal) to survive. The virus gets into the host’s cells, using it to make more of the virus.

Examples of viral illnesses include COVID-19, HIV, and common colds.

Some viruses can be treated with antiviral medications, which use the host immune system to help clear the virus or prevent it from making copies of itself. Some viruses, such as the common cold, are treated with over-the-counter medications to help alleviate the symptoms.

Prevention

Following these steps can help prevent bacterial and viral illnesses:

  • Frequently wash your hands with soap and water
  • Keep your hands away from your face
  • Stay away from people when they are sick
  • Cover your coughs and sneezes
  • Clean and disinfect items that you touch often
  • Follow food safety rules
  • Use condoms